Yumen Pass (玉門關)

Yumen Pass [Photo by Chen Qiuping/China.org.cn]

The Yumen Pass, or Jade Gate, a pass through which the Silk Road runs, is located 90 kilometers northwest of Dunhuang. It was originally established by Emperor Wu (156 B.C. - 87 B.C.) of the Han Dynasty (220 B.C. -221 A.D.) and constructed around 111 B.C. In particular, it is a frontier pass that distinguishes itself from any ordinary ones. The square enclosure covering an area of 633 square meters stands intact after experiencing numerous vicissitudes over the centuries.